Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Reza Pejman, Jonathan Gorman, Ahmad Raeisi Najafi
Summary: A multi-physics optimization framework is proposed for designing a new battery packaging for electric vehicles. The optimized design increases the driving range of the Tesla Model S by about 23%.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marzia Dulal, Md Rashedul Islam, Saptarshi Maiti, Mohammad Hamidul Islam, Iftikhar Ali, Amr M. Abdelkader, Kostya S. Novoselov, Shaila Afroj, Nazmul Karim
Summary: A novel approach for layer-by-layer deposition of 2D material-based heterostructure onto glass fiber fabric has been reported, resulting in smart textiles with integrated energy storage, sensing, and heating functionalities. The smart composite exhibits exceptional cyclic stability, efficient joule heating, and strain sensitivity, demonstrating its potential for multifunctional applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Giulia Fredi, Andrea Dorigato, Luca Fambri, Alessandro Pegoretti
Summary: This study proposes a multifunctional polymer-matrix composite to meet the high specific mechanical properties and thermal energy storage (TES) function requirements. By determining the conditions for effective mass saving and ranking different structural TES composites using a parameter called multifunctional efficiency, it is found that the potential mass saving is higher when the volume fraction of the reinforcement is kept constant.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mohamed Sawadogo, Alexandre Godin, Marie Duquesne, Elodie Lacroix, Amelie Veillere, Ameur El Amine Hamami, Rafik Belarbi
Summary: The goal of this study is to explore the potential of natural fibers as support materials for phase change materials (PCMs) in buildings using shape-stabilization technique. Through the selection software Ansys Granta, four natural fibers (fir fibers, hemp fibers, hemp shives and flax mulch) were preliminarily chosen based on physical, thermal, geographical and economic criteria. After impregnating the candidate fibers with capric acid and lauric acid, their performances were compared and hemp shives with the highest impregnation rate of 50 wt% with lauric acid and good thermal stability under 150 degrees C were selected as the support material. Subsequently, hemp shives were impregnated with 5 different pure fatty acids and 7 eutectic mixtures to identify the best composite. Most of the developed composites exhibited latent heat higher than 50 J g(-1), showing great potential for energy storage in buildings. Considering the thermal requirements, such as high latent heat, low undercooling and fusion temperature ranging from 15 to 45 degrees C, lauric acid hemp shives composites were selected as potential materials for buildings application with promising performances (fusion enthalpy of 79.31 J g(-1) at 50 wt% impregnation rate).
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Dileep Kumar, Morshed Alam, Jay Sanjayan, Muhammad Harris
Summary: Phase change materials (PCM) can reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort in buildings. However, there are limitations in integrating PCM into construction materials, primarily due to the selection of suitable porous materials. This study aimed to select the most suitable porous material for developing Form Stable PCM (FSPCM) cement composite for concrete panels in building envelopes. Five different porous materials were considered based on their porosity, geometry, and surface morphology, and the performance of the synthesized FSPCM composite was evaluated. The study revealed that silica aerogel granules (SAG) had the highest PCM absorption capacity, while recycled expanded glass (REG) had lower absorption capacity. The Capric Acid/Hydrophobic expanded Perlite (CAHEP) showed the best overall performance in terms of absorption, thermal conductivity, strength, thermal inertia, latent heat storage, and thermal storage.
CASE STUDIES IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanbin Li, Yao Zhao, Yinding Chi, Yaoye Hong, Jie Yin
Summary: Improving energy efficiency in buildings is crucial for reducing energy consumption and improving environmental conditions. Recent research has shown that using environmentally adaptive shape-morphing building envelopes can enhance energy efficiency more effectively than traditional stationary ones.
MATERIALS TODAY ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Josu Fernandez Maestu, Ander Garcia Diez, Carmen R. Tubio, Ainara Gomez, Joanes Berasategui, Pedro Costa, M. Mounir Bou-Ali, Jon Gutierrez Etxebarria, Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez
Summary: Advances in the development of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) with self-sensing characteristics are reported in this study. Conductive fillers were added to increase the applicability of MREs. The SEBS matrix with embedded Fe3O4 nanoparticles as magnetically responsive materials and MWCNT as conductive fillers were used to prepare multifunctional MREs. The addition of MWCNT improved the mechanical, electrical, magnetorheological, and piezoresistive properties of the composites, making them suitable for self-sensing deformation in magnetorheological actuators.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Zhaodi Tang, Hongyi Gao, Xiao Chen, Yafei Zhang, Ang Li, Ge Wang
Summary: Phase change materials, with the ability to store thermal energy efficiently, can improve energy utilization, but traditional passive heat absorption lacks proactive control. Photo-responsive materials bring new potential to the field of PCMs, meeting specific requirements and providing new functions for PCMs.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Afshin Marani, Lei Zhang, Moncef L. Nehdi
Summary: Two types of eco-friendly shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs) were developed by impregnating biobased PCMs into recycled expanded glass granules and coating them with silica fume particles. The incorporation of these environmentally friendly SSPCMs into concrete can maintain mechanical strength and achieve thermal energy storage, reducing indoor temperature fluctuations and saving energy.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Maksymilian Frac, Wojciech Szudek, Paulina Szoldra, Waldemar Pichor
Summary: The research results indicate that shungite is a promising conductive additive for cement composites. Introduction of at least 16% of shungite allows obtaining composites with electrical properties, enabling their application in stress/damage or temperature monitoring. Cement composites with shungite also exhibit piezoresistive and thermoelectric effects.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Rosicky Methode Kalombe, Sarvenaz Sobhansarbandi, John Kevern
Summary: This study explores the use of low-cost thermal energy storage aggregates (TESA) as an alternative to deicing salts for improving winter safety. Different organic phase change materials (PCMs) were used to create TESA, which effectively stored heat and delayed freezing. The combination of paraffin wax and soybean oil showed the most significant heat storage increase. TESA concrete presents a sustainable and feasible option for reducing the use of deicing salts and minimizing environmental and safety impacts in winter maintenance.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Adio Miliozzi, Franco Dominici, Mauro Candelori, Elisabetta Veca, Raffaele Liberatore, Daniele Nicolini, Luigi Torre
Summary: Utilizing concrete-based heat storage material with a small amount of shape-stabilized phase change material (PCM) can improve energy storage efficiency, enabling storage of energy as both sensible and latent heat. By enhancing thermal properties, particularly energy density, more compact and economically feasible thermal energy storage systems can be developed to operate within a temperature range of approximately 150-350 degrees C.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Luis F. Rodriguez-Alfaro, Leticia M. Torres-Martinez, Mayra Z. Trevino-Garza, Jose M. Vazquez-Guillen, Cristina Rodriguez-Padilla, E. Luevano-Hipolito
Summary: Composites of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) functionalized with TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated for their potential as a self-cleaning and antimicrobial building material. The MOC composites exhibited good mechanical properties, light absorption, and self-cleaning efficiency, removing up to 91% of pollutants under solar light and accelerated weathering conditions. They also demonstrated high antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria. The structural and morphological stability of the MOC composites after weathering tests confirmed their suitability for outdoor applications in reducing environmental pollution.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ertugrul Erdogmus, Ali Yaras, Abid Ustaoglu, Gokhan Hekimoglu, Ahmet Sari, Osman Gencel
Summary: The management and disposal of water treatment sludge (WTS) in water treatment plants is an important problem. This study investigates the potential use of WTS in thermal energy storage applications and its ability to control indoor temperature when incorporated in foam concrete.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jingmeng Sun, Junqi Zhao, Weiye Zhang, Jianuo Xu, Beibei Wang, Xuanye Wang, Jun Zhou, Hongwu Guo, Yi Liu
Summary: Phase change materials (PCMs) can reduce energy waste in construction by stabilizing daily temperature changes. A new type of shell-core PCM (E-shell PCM) with high latent heat potential and good structural stability was prepared through cation exchange and layer upon layer self-assembly. The thermal energy storage (TES) wood-plastic composites (WPC) manufactured using this E-shell PCM showed excellent morphological stability, high phase transition heat, thermal stability, heat storage performance, and mechanical strength. The introduction of expanded perlite (EP) improved heat and smoke suppression in the composites, making it a potential building material for temperature control.
Editorial Material
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Simon Laflamme, Kara Peters, Filippo Ubertini
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Chiara Chiatti, Claudia Fabiani, Anna Laura Pisello
Summary: The expansion of buildings' floor area and the growing demand for lighting have led to an increase in lighting-related energy consumption. To mitigate the impacts of fossil fuels, the lighting sector has undergone renovation and adopted efficient LED solutions. This study investigates the response of photoluminescent pigments with different absorption and emission spectra to the specific spectral distribution of the excitation source. Results show that a yellow-emitting material is most suitable for lighting purposes, providing the highest luminance values and longest decay time.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Andrea Meoni, Antonella D'Alessandro, Felice Saviano, Gian Piero Lignola, Fulvio Parisi, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: A diffuse and continuous monitoring of the in-service structural response of buildings can allow for the early identification of the formation of cracks and collapse mechanisms before the occurrence of severe consequences. In the case of existing masonry constructions, the implementation of tailored Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems appears quite significant, given their well-known susceptibility to brittle failures. Recently, a new sensing technology based on smart bricks, i.e., piezoresistive brick-like sensors, was proposed in the literature for the SHM of masonry constructions. Overall, the effectiveness of smart bricks in strain monitoring and crack detection is demonstrated.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Andrea Meoni, Enrique Garcia-Macias, Ilaria Venanzi, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: This paper presents a new methodology for prioritizing visual inspections in bridge management systems (BMSs) based on risk condition and operating cost assessment. The methodology uses an information gain criterion to address potential uncertainties in risk classification and optimize the inspection plan. It can be implemented in Geographical Information Systems (GISs) to facilitate the construction of intuitive risk maps and inspection plans. The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated through its application to a simulated bridge stock.
STRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fabiana Frota de Albuquerque Landi, Claudia Fabiani, Benedetta Pioppi, Anna Laura Pisello
Summary: This study constructs a comprehensive operational flux inventory of an Italian luxury garment brand and proposes feasible strategies to reduce potential impacts associated with their products.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cristina Prieto, Anton Lopez-Roman, Guillermo Garcia-Rivero, Esther Bartoli, Luisa F. Cabeza
Summary: Solar concentration technology is dispatchable with the use of thermal energy storage systems, such as the indirect storage systems based on molten salts used in commercial parabolic trough power plants. This study examines the compatibility between thermal oil and salts, considering cross-contamination in the equipment. The results show that while the thermal oil undergoes complete thermal-oxidative degradation, it does not significantly affect the composition of the salts.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Stefano Anastasia, Enrique Garcia-Macias, Filippo Ubertini, Vincenzo Gattulli, Salvador Ivorra
Summary: This paper proposes a novel damage identification approach for railway bridges using autoregressive coefficients from strain data as damage features. The approach offers damage detection, quantification, and localization capabilities through a statistical pattern recognition algorithm. The effectiveness of the approach is validated through case studies involving a theoretical beam and a real-world railway bridge.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Esequiel Mesquita, Israel Sousa, Mylene Vieira, Ana Mafalda Matos, Luis P. M. Santos, Laura Silvestro, Renan Salvador, Antonella D'Alessandro, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: In recent years, the use of nanomaterials, particularly carbon nanotubes, in cement-based composites has attracted considerable attention due to their potential in monitoring civil structures and infrastructures. However, the challenge lies in dispersing the nanotubes effectively and efficiently, which is typically addressed using sonic treatments or surfactants. This study aims to analyze the self-sensing properties of cementitious composites developed with NaOH as the dispersing agent, and the findings suggest that the dispersing strategy using NaOH is promising for enhancing the sensing properties of the composites.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Architecture
Anastasios Drougkas, Vasilis Sarhosis, Alice Macente, Muhammed Basheer, Antonella D'Alessandro, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: This study conducted mechanical and physical testing on a natural hydraulic lime-based mortar modified using carbon microfibres, aiming to evaluate its mechanical advantages as a repointing mortar for masonry structures compared to its unmodified counterpart. The results showed that the modified mortar exhibited enhanced mechanical strength and improved durability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Civil
Elisabetta Farneti, Nicola Cavalagli, Mario Costantini, Francesco Trillo, Federico Minati, Ilaria Venanzi, Walter Salvatore, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: This work investigates the potential application of Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) in bridge monitoring, presenting a post-processing methodology to derive displacement configurations and define error bounds. The case study of the Albiano-Magra Bridge in Italy reveals anomalies in displacements prior to collapse, providing insights into the possible cause.
EUROPEAN WORKSHOP ON STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING (EWSHM 2022), VOL 2
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Civil
Valentina Giglioni, Ilaria Venanzi, Alina Elena Baia, Valentina Poggioni, Alfredo Milani, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: Structural health monitoring is an important and challenging issue in modern society. To enhance bridge assessment and damage detection, researchers have applied machine learning algorithms and proposed a convolutional autoencoder-based damage detection technique.
EUROPEAN WORKSHOP ON STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING (EWSHM 2022), VOL 2
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Civil
Laura Ierimonti, Ilaria Venanzi, Nicola Cavalagli, Enrique Garcia-Macias, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: The objective of the study is to detect and locate structural damages in monumental structures using vibration and data fusion approaches. The main issues related to uncertainty management are addressed through the aggregation of different sources of information. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through experiments.
EUROPEAN WORKSHOP ON STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING (EWSHM 2022), VOL 2
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Civil
Anastasios Drougkas, Vasilis Sarhosis, Muhammed Basheer, Antonella D'Alessandro, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: The present work aims to design novel smart intervention materials for multifunctional application in historic masonry structures. These materials have enhanced piezoresistivity and can be used as deformation and damage sensors.
EUROPEAN WORKSHOP ON STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING (EWSHM 2022), VOL 1
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Civil
Andrea Meoni, Antonella D'Alessandro, Felice Saviano, Gian Piero Lignola, Fulvio Parisi, Filippo Ubertini
Summary: Masonry constructions are prone to brittle collapses under seismic loading, highlighting the importance of structural health monitoring. Smart bricks, as piezoresistive strain-sensing sensors, can be integrated within masonry load-bearing structures to measure strain variations. Experimental testing demonstrated the effectiveness of smart bricks in early detecting shear-induced damages.
EUROPEAN WORKSHOP ON STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING (EWSHM 2022), VOL 1
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shitong Fang, Houfan Du, Tao Yan, Keyu Chen, Zhiyuan Li, Xiaoqing Ma, Zhihui Lai, Shengxi Zhou
Summary: This paper proposes a new type of nonlinear VIV energy harvester (ANVEH) that compensates for the decrease in peak energy output at low wind speeds by introducing an auxiliary structure. Theoretical and experimental results show that ANVEH performs better than traditional nonlinear VIV energy harvesters under various system parameter variations.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Jiang, Shuo Zhang, Teng Wang, Yufei Zhang, Aimin Sha, Jingjing Xiao, Dongdong Yuan
Summary: A standardized method was developed to evaluate the availability of solar energy resources in road areas, which combined the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Geographic Information System (GIS). By analyzing critical factors and using a multi-indicator evaluation method, the method accurately evaluated the utilization of solar energy resources and guided the optimal location selection for road photovoltaic (PV) projects. The results provided guidance for the application of road PV projects and site selection for route corridors worldwide, promoting the integration of transportation and energy.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chang Liu, Jacob A. Wrubel, Elliot Padgett, Guido Bender
Summary: The study investigates the effects of coating defects on the performance of the anode porous transport layer (PTL) in water electrolyzers. The results show that an increasing fraction of uncoated regions on the PTL leads to decreased cell performance, with continuous uncoated regions having a more severe impact compared to multiple thin uncoated strips.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Marcos Tostado-Veliz, Xiaolong Jin, Rohit Bhakar, Francisco Jurado
Summary: In this paper, a coordinated charging price mechanism for clusters of parking lots is proposed. The research shows that enabling vehicle-to-grid characteristics can bring significant economic benefits for users and the cluster coordinator, and vehicle-to-grid impacts noticeably on the risk-averse character of the uncertainty-aware strategies. The developed pricing mechanism can reduce the cost for users, avoiding to directly translate the energy cost to charging points.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Duan Kang
Summary: Building an energy superpower is a key strategy for China and a long-term goal for other countries. This study proposes an evaluation system and index for measuring energy superpower, and finds that China has significantly improved its ranking over the past 21 years, surpassing other countries.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fucheng Deng, Yifei Wang, Xiaosen Li, Gang Li, Yi Wang, Bin Huang
Summary: This study investigated the synergistic blockage mechanism of sand and hydrate in gravel filling layer and the evolution of permeability in the layer. Experimental models and modified permeability models were established to analyze the effects of sand particles and hydrate formation on permeability. The study provided valuable insights for the safe and efficient exploitation of hydrate reservoirs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hao Wang, Xiwen Chen, Natan Vital, Edward Duffy, Abolfazl Razi
Summary: This study proposes a HVAC energy optimization model based on deep reinforcement learning algorithm. It achieves 37% energy savings and ensures thermal comfort for open office buildings. The model has a low complexity, uses a few controllable factors, and has a short training time with good generalizability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Moyue Cong, Yongzhuo Gao, Weidong Wang, Long He, Xiwang Mao, Yi Long, Wei Dong
Summary: This study introduces a multi-strategy ultra-wideband energy harvesting device that achieves high power output without the need for external power input. By utilizing asymmetry, stagger array, magnetic coupling, and nonlinearity strategies, the device maintains a stable output voltage and high power density output at non-resonant frequencies. Temperature and humidity monitoring are performed using Bluetooth sensors to adaptively assess the device.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tianshu Dong, Xiudong Duan, Yuanyuan Huang, Danji Huang, Yingdong Luo, Ziyu Liu, Xiaomeng Ai, Jiakun Fang, Chaolong Song
Summary: Electrochemical water splitting is crucial for hydrogen production, and improving the hydrogen separation rate from the electrode is essential for enhancing water electrolyzer performance. However, issues such as air bubble adhesion to the electrode plate hinder the process. Therefore, a methodology to investigate the two-phase flow within the electrolyzer is in high demand. This study proposes using a microfluidic system as a simulator for the electrolyzer and optimizing the two-phase flow by manipulating the micro-structure of the flow.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shuo Han, Yifan Yuan, Mengjiao He, Ziwen Zhao, Beibei Xu, Diyi Chen, Jakub Jurasz
Summary: Giving full play to the flexibility of hydropower and integrating more variable renewable energy is of great significance for accelerating the transformation of China's power energy system. This study proposes a novel day-ahead scheduling model that considers the flexibility limited by irregular vibration zones (VZs) and the probability of flexibility shortage in a hydropower-variable renewable energy hybrid generation system. The model is applied to a real hydropower station and effectively improves the flexibility supply capacity of hydropower, especially during heavy load demand in flood season.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhen Wang, Kangqi Fan, Shizhong Zhao, Shuxin Wu, Xuan Zhang, Kangjia Zhai, Zhiqi Li, Hua He
Summary: This study developed a high-performance rotary energy harvester (AI-REH) inspired by archery, which efficiently accumulates and releases ultralow-frequency vibration energy. By utilizing a magnetic coupling strategy and an accumulator spring, the AI-REH achieves significantly accelerated rotor speeds and enhanced electric outputs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yi Yang, Qianyi Xing, Kang Wang, Caihong Li, Jianzhou Wang, Xiaojia Huang
Summary: In this study, a novel hybrid Quantile Regression (QR) model is proposed for Probabilistic Load Forecasting (PLF). The model integrates causal dilated convolution, residual connection, and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) for multi-scale feature extraction. In addition, a Combined Probabilistic Load Forecasting System (CPLFS) is proposed to overcome the inherent flaws of relying on a single model. Simulation results show that the hybrid QR outperforms traditional models and CPLFS exceeds the best benchmarks in terms of prediction accuracy and stability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wen-Jiang Zou, Young-Bae Kim, Seunghun Jung
Summary: This paper proposes a dynamic prediction model for capacity fade in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). The model accurately predicts changes in electrolyte volume and capacity fade, enhancing the competitiveness of VRFBs in energy storage applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yuechao Ma, Shengtie Wang, Guangchen Liu, Guizhen Tian, Jianwei Zhang, Ruiming Liu
Summary: This paper focuses on the balance of state of charge (SOC) among multiple battery energy storage units (MBESUs) and bus voltage balance in an islanded bipolar DC microgrid. A SOC automatic balancing strategy is proposed considering the energy flow relationship and utilizing the adaptive virtual resistance algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in achieving SOC balancing and decreasing bus voltage unbalance.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Raad Z. Homod, Basil Sh. Munahi, Hayder Ibrahim Mohammed, Musatafa Abbas Abbood Albadr, Aissa Abderrahmane, Jasim M. Mahdi, Mohamed Bechir Ben Hamida, Bilal Naji Alhasnawi, A. S. Albahri, Hussein Togun, Umar F. Alqsair, Zaher Mundher Yaseen
Summary: In this study, the control problem of the multiple-boiler system (MBS) is formulated as a dynamic Markov decision process and a deep clustering reinforcement learning approach is applied to obtain the optimal control policy. The proposed strategy, based on bang-bang action, shows superior response and achieves more than 32% energy saving compared to conventional fixed parameter controllers under dynamic indoor/outdoor actual conditions.